In this issue

Pleased to be proved wrong

New Council member David Lowe gives an assessment of the
workings of Council and its impact on national policy.

Why would a headteacher with a heavy workload put himself
forward to be elected as a national representative on ASCL Council?

For some length of time I
had the perception that ASCL was too compliant to government wishes and that
decisions were being taken and new legislation introduced without any challenge
being made by ASCL.

My view has always been
'put up or shut up' and therefore I put up and was really pleased to be
elected.

Throughout my career I
have always been willing to question or challenge. As a trainee teacher I was
chair of the student union and within two years of teaching I was the NUT
school representative. I suppose I mellowed with age and became the ATL
representative because the union appeared more sensible and viewed management
in a different light.

In 1988 I joined what was
then SHA when I was promoted to a senior teacher position in a school in Wigan.

Since my election to Council I have enjoyed
the two full meetings attended so far. I approached the first meeting in
September with a great deal of trepidation but that soon disappeared over
dinner when I was made to feel very welcome by ASCL officers.

Malcolm Trobe, our
president, was equally reassuring. The fact that there were so many new members
also made it easier.

There were two things
occupying my mind. Firstly, I wanted to avoid using the old name of SHA and
secondly I was trying desperately to disguise my extremely broad Mancunian
accent. I was successful with the first but failed miserably with the second
after I enjoyed my third glass of wine!

The following day began with a full council
meeting with a lengthy agenda consisting of reports from individuals and
committees. It was at this very early stage that I realised just how much ASCL
influences government policy.

Members such as John Dunford, Malcolm Trobe,
Martin Ward and many others attend regular meetings with ministers. The
pre-conception I once held soon disappeared and it wasn't long before I
understood how ASCL approached negotiations and consultations. What became
blatantly obvious is that ASCL is extremely professional.

If there is one thing I would like to see more
evidence of it is ASCL communicating more effectively with its members about
the discussions officers have with ministers. It is essential that members
register to receive the weekly e-newsletter and keep up to date on
developments. I am aware of how difficult it is to read all the information we
receive in school but the newsletter is very well presented.

On a personal level the
two meetings I have attended have provided me with the best professional
development I have ever experienced. The debates held at Council on topics such
as the future of MFL are very realistic and practical and most importantly
focus on the learning of young people. Although I have been made to feel very
welcome I have yet to speak at full Council. I am sure I will as soon as I
modify my Mancunian accent enough to be understood.

More information

Reports to Council from the general secretary
and other officers, as well as reports from committees, are on the website at www.ascl.org.uk Click on 'about us' and 'ASCL Council'.

To register for the
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